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Melatonin use in infants and toddlers
Judith Owens1, Natalie Barnett2, Maristella Lucchini2
1Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 9 Hope Avenue, Waltham, MA, USA.
Sleep Medicine
|June 15, 2024
Summary
Melatonin use in young children is increasing, but studies show caregivers often get recommendations from non-professionals. This raises concerns about safety and efficacy due to lack of oversight.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Melatonin supplements are increasingly used by children in the US.
- There is a lack of data on melatonin's safety and efficacy in children under two years old.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate melatonin use in US infants and toddlers.
- To understand caregiver-reported reasons for use and information sources.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was administered to caregivers using the Nanit baby monitoring system.
- Participants had children aged 0-36 months and completed the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire-Revised (BISQ-R).
Main Results:
- 1.7% of surveyed caregivers reported using melatonin for their child.
- Half of melatonin users received recommendations from non-healthcare professionals.
- Reasons for use included non-supported indications like improving sleep quality.
Conclusions:
- Widespread pediatric melatonin use warrants concern due to lack of regulation.
- Inaccurate product labeling and non-evidence-based usage highlight safety issues.
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